India refuses to budge under Chinese pressure, says it has right to develop border areas

New Delhi: Brushing aside China's reservations to its plans to develop infrastructure along the border, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government on Saturday said it has every right to undertake such projects in Indian territory and no one can stop it.

"We will do certain infrastructural activities which have not been done in the last 60 years. The Chinese should not have a problem with my statement. They cannot stop me from doing my work," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters here on the sidelines of a function here.

China had recently reacted sharply to a statement by Rijiju that India was planning to construct a road along the international boundary from Mago-Thingbu in Tawang to Vijaynagar in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh to match China's road infrastructure across the McMahon Line.

"There is a dispute about the eastern part of the China- India border. Before final settlement is reached, we hope that India will not take any action that may further complicate the situation," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman had said.

Rijiju said he was only referring to the government's plans to improve border infrastructure within India's territory and not in Chinese territory.

"I didn't say that we are going to do anything on their territory. I am an MP from Arunachal Pradesh. I am constitutionally elected and I have the constitutional right and obligation to do whatever is right in our territory. I am looking at border management also," he said.

Asked about China's plans to construct a railway line across the McMahon line, the Union minister said it was nothing new.

"They have been doing this for a very long time and in an extensive manner. My concern is we want to do what is necessary in our territory," he said.

Earlier, addressing a function on private security industry, organised by the FICCI, Rijiju said there was need to increase the role of private security agencies and expressed concern over non-implementation in letter and spirit of the private security agencies Act enacted in 2005.

Maintaining that private security agencies were still unorganised, the Minister said there was a need to ensure that the private security guards get their proper wages with proper duty hours.